July e-newsletter

Dear Alumni & Friends!

“For me this institution is enormously important; it made me, it is part of my character. . . . . I’m very grateful.”

So said the President of the University Council, Keith Hamill (Politics 1974), at a special Diamond Anniversary Dinner to celebrate 60 years of the University’s Royal Charter. The dinner at the Jubilee Campus, attended by past and present members of Council and benefactors, also marked the official launch of Aspire, the UK’s tallest freestanding sculpture.

Alumni are invited to watch a couple of short films, one celebrating the achievements of the last 60 years and another centred around the night of the dinner, both made by alumnus Rob Glass, on the University website at: http://communications.nottingham.ac.uk/podcasts.html.

We’re in the middle of a busy summer of events at the University so don’t forget the Alumni Laureate Awards 2008 on 11th September and the Golden Reunion on 11th October. Use our website to find out more and to book online.

Since launching the new Nottingham Online at the end of April, we are delighted to report that thousands of you have made good use of this service. Please keep using the site; update your details as soon as there are any changes, add a personal note to let friends know what you are up to now or keep up to date with all the latest University and alumni news.

Plus, keep using the Noticeboard. It’s your space to post a message, celebrate a success, appeal to former friends or colleagues or simply announce something about yourself. Simply e-mail your messages to alumni-enquiries@nottingham.ac.uk.

If you enjoy the e-newsletters why not encourage your friends and fellow Nottingham alumni to register on the website www.alumni.nottingham.ac.uk, to request this monthly e-newsletter and forward to a friend now.

Supporting the University now means TWICE as muchThe University can now double the value of all donations to the Annual Fund. Thanks to the Government’s new £200 million matching scheme which is launched on 1st August – there’s never been a better time to give......more

Nottingham professor becomes overnight YouTube hit
They are the unlikely new stars of YouTube — from Sodium and Helium to Lithium, Oxygen, Hydrogen and Argon. University of Nottingham scientists have brought the Periodic Table into the 21st century with a bang, by posting lively video clips about every single chemical element on a new website......more

Two more Nottingham Olympians for Team GBTwo more Nottingham students have joined the list of elite athletes travelling to China for the Beijing Olympic Games, which begin on 8th August. Team GB now includes a total of eight from Nottingham – three current students and five alumni – ready to compete in the ultimate challenge for their country......more

Ian Cooke retires with a prestigious RHS AwardGrounds Manager Ian Cooke retires this summer with a prestigious Associateship of Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society to celebrate 14 years of transforming the University of Nottingham landscape......more

First students graduate from Ningbo CampusAn historic ceremony has seen the first cohort of Chinese graduates receive British degrees at the University’s pioneering campus in China......more

Death of Nottingham graduate and former President of the African Bar AssociationThe former Speaker of Parliament and former president of the Ghana Bar Association, Peter Ala Adjetey (Law 1958), has died after a short illness. He was 76......more

Students finish sixth in BUSA league tables
Nottingham’s students proved their sporting prowess once again with a top six finish in the 2007/08 British Universities Sports Association league tables......more

Make a splash and raise cash for Children’s Brain Tumour ResearchThe 2008 Big Swim (formerly the Million Metre Swim) takes place on 20th September at the University Park Swimming Pool between 10am and 4pm. Why not team up with friends and register for the day at www.bigswim.org.uk and raise some sponsorship? There are a choice of swims to suit all abilities and ages. Stay fit, have fun and raise money all at the same time......more